At the time of the original proposal, NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr said that the provision was simply “players paying players, not owners paying players. That is, players are ‘made whole’ for reduced salaries in one year by reducing their salaries in later years.”

The most recent offers from the parties each saw revenues reduced to 50-50 over the course of the agreement from the current 57-43 split in favor of the players. However, the union has made it clear it wants that drop phased in so current contracts are kept intact.

The NHL also proposed numerous changes to contract rules in its most recent offer, but the NHLPA has shown no interest in accepting any of those.

The NHL’s proposal also includes a deferred payment system, according to the report. The league is willing to reconsider such a system when CBA negotiations resume, according to the report.

That glimmer of hope came on what had been a dark day for the league with the canceling of the 2013 Winter Classic. The game was scheduled for Jan. 1 between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. A crowd of 115,000 was expected.

"The logistical demands for staging events of this magnitude made today's decision unavoidable," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said. "We simply are out of time. We are extremely disappointed for our fans and for all those affected."

Regular-season games through Nov. 30--326 in all, in addition to the Winter Classic--have been canceled because of the league's work stoppage.

On the call, LeBrun said two main points emerged. One player said the call reaffirmed the players' desire to stay together in the face of the owners' waiting game approach. Another said that overwhelming feeling was that union wants executive director Donald Fehr to return to the table and see what kind of flexibility exists on the other side.